You may have noticed that I’m not a prolific MAC buyer… it’s not some conscious decision to avoid MAC, I just don’t have access to the brand in Southampton. My nearest MAC store is a good 45 minute drive away and so I generally only pick up bits and bobs when I’m in London.

Last time I was in the MAC store in Covent Garden, I was enjoying the company of Katie from My Lips But Better and she pointed out this MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder to me. Well, actually… she kinda dragged me to the pot and insisted that I HAD to play with it. It was love at first touch… a liquid/powder/uber cool thing? Get. In. My. Bag.

I used the tip of a pen to pop some holes through the sticker covering the sifter but it doesn’t actually work that well as the powder is reluctant to dispense without a lot of tapping. I think you’d be better off peeling back about a quarter of the sticker and snipping the excess.

So, what is this Magically Cool Liquid Powder thing all about anyway? I’ll let MAC explain…

An alchemical fusion that charms water droplets into a loose powder while remaining over 50 percent H2O.

This feather-light silky powder goes on with the refreshing impact of an ocean mist.
What’s more, this magical melange contains just enough optical blurring via its light-diffusing pigments to render skin’s surface into line-softened, natural luminosity.

How magical is that?

Magical indeed… I’ve swatched it heavily below so you can see the shade.

I bought the palest shade of the three available, Truth & Light. At the time of purchasing, I thought I was buying it as a highlighter… but I’m delighted to be able to wear it as a setting powder. I think of it in the same way I think of my Guerlain Metorites. A light dusting for an added dimension of luminosity.

A significant difference with the MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder though is in its longevity. The swatch above needed to be washed off, rubbing with my hand wouldn’t budge it! This makes for an excellent setting powder but some tricky application issues.

I initially applied this with a normal powder brush and it transferred way too much product to my face. If you apply too much, it balls up and will not blend, not to mention it sits there caked on your face looking pretty awful. I’ve since started using my Sonia Kashuk stippling brush which deposits the perfect amount of product and delivers a wonderful cooling sensation!

Horrible photo but hopefully you can make out a bit of sheen (NO SPARKLE!) where the light hits my cheeks.

I’m really pleased with my purchase, one of my favourites MAC buys in a very long time!

MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder is available on counter and online priced at £23.50 for 28g of product.

Ok sold. I’ve had my eye on this product since it came out in the disney collection and I really wanted the palest for proper setting powder but was afraid it would be to heavy, or too shiny, and I’m not near a counter so I’ve not really been able to test. I’ve also not realyl seen any blog posts with a pic of it in use all over the face… I want it. Thanks for that!

I picked up the Sleek version of this (The One powder) and the cooling sensation is really weird! Good weird though. I’m not sure about the sheeny-ness of it, I’m usually a big fan of being pretty matte.

I bought this in the same colour as you too, I didn’t find it all that magical. Don’t you find it too shimmery to use as a setting powder? I did and that’s what bugged me about it. The cooling sensation is cool though… cool lol.

I have one of these from the Venomous Villains collection and I really struggle to get on with it. It’s the application that’s the main issue, as you say. I find it makes my brushes wet and that gets in the way of an even application. The cooling sensation is nice though. Maybe I’ll try it with a stippling brush now to see if that helps.

I like this one too. I bought it when it came out with Venomous Villains and have used it on and off since. Word of warning though, it dries out pretty quickly, so be sure to keep it tightly closed and don’t tip out too much at once. I also got the pink one from Prescriptives in Florida in a CCO, so I never bothered with the new Mac version, but that’s definitely more of a highlighter, too shimmery to use all over.

Great review!!!
I think this is one to take a closer look at – regardless if one’s a hardcore MAC fan or not, I mean, look at that goooorgeous finish on you (although a good 80% of that is your super clear skin, hehe)! 🙂

This is the original Prescriptives ‘Magic’ powder which is used since it first came out (many years). It has been a staple of my makeup routine and many times I wore it on its own. The packaging is, of course different, so I can’t comment on the application but it is definitely cooling and gives a youthful glow to the skin. It’s incredibly fine, like the mineral powders you get now. My only beef is that Estee Lauder just shut this fabulous cosmetics house down and absorbed its best products into its other brands. If you think, what real innovation has Estee Lauder produced recently, the most recent Idealist is no better than any other primer on the market, and the under eye product is the only one that makes my mascara smudge, not much good then!

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